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From Renaissance masters and contemporary icons, modern visionaries alongside a major Latin American director, galleries as well as galleries throughout the US have some dazzling shows on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back during 2023, now merely a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the central creators of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its long-held collection of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens loans from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco sister institutions, one prestigious venue along with deYoung, will focus on the Floating City with two linked exhibitions: one location will offer a exploration of the city as a source of high art for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually rose to the task, producing approximately 37 paintings, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the quarter-century of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of footage that never made it into the released movie, creating an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the vaults to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will instil some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the multidisciplinary sculptor creator a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and moving through to a fresh collection of pieces fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her materials directly from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in prestigious venues. Having had major shows in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her three decades of creation are ready for a in-depth overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from throughout Europe and over 200 works total, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation promises to be a very engaging piece, with visitors invited to play around with the multiple movable screens that display the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing discarded objects to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights recent pieces based on the concept of queer weddings. It extends her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are socialized to inhabit space differently, this exhibition examines how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and put into conversation with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

In February, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of up and coming Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum presents a collection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.